The NSW Government will use feedback from a series of community roundtables to improve palliative care services across the state.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the NSW Government today published reports revealing communities’ priorities for palliative care services which were raised at 10 roundtables across the state, including at NSW Parliament House in Sydney.

“The NSW Government committed a record $100 million over the next four years in the 2017-18 Budget to provide more tailored community-based palliative care services,” Mr Hazzard said.

“We’ve now listened to the communities’ views on where and how services can be improved and will be ensuring the best possible use of our $100 million boost to palliative care services to produce better outcomes for patients and their families.”

More than 80 medical personnel, advocates, community organisations and people with personal experience in palliative care attended the roundtable in Sydney to help shape new directions in palliative care for NSW. Roundtables were also held in Lismore, Orange, Kempsey, Broken Hill, Tamworth, Newcastle, Griffith, Queanbeyan and Kiama.

Priorities raised by participants include the need to improve access to services, ensuring a skilled workforce is linked with integrated care and support, and making palliative care more patient-centred.

“As a result of these roundtables we now have a deeper understanding of what is working well, what needs improvement and potential solutions,” Mr Hazzard said.

“I encourage members of the public to have a good look at the roundtable reports. We will soon be releasing a discussion paper, seeking further feedback.”

More than half of all deaths in Australia occur in hospitals but many people indicate they would rather die at home. About 50,000 people die each year in NSW and this will double by 2056.

The reports can be viewed on the NSW Health - Palliative care roundtables 2017.